Margaret chase smith was the first woman elected to both houses of congress. I met margaret chase smith when i fell in love with this old show. The book closes with a four page indepth biography of smith written for adults and older readers, making it a book that extends to middle schools. Republican, elected originally to fill her deceased husbands house seat.
Thus, i think the shorthand for margaret chase smith remain simply smith or senator smith or whathaveyou, and chase smith. The margaret chase smith library is an archive, museum, educational facility, and public policy center devoted to preserving the legacy of margaret chase smith, promoting research into american political history, advancing the ideals of public service, and exploring issues of civic engagement. It chronicles the life and political career of the first female u. Her husband died early and she took over hiis congressional seat. She then taught school briefly, held a series of other jobs, and served. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. Against these events and activities, the book demonstrates the impact of the nations commitment to anticommunism and nuclear weapons which allowed politicians like margaret chase smith to embrace contradictory stances on political dissent, military policy, and the role of government in american society.
Her goal was to be a united states senator, not a woman senator, and she succeeded by overcoming gender, not by championing it. In 1961, smith published her favorite family recipe, maine clam chowder, in support of the gold star wives of america military family support organization. Declaration of conscience by margaret chase smith, 1972. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features. A life of senator margaret chase smith rutgers series on women and politics sherman, janann on. The margaret chase smith library is an archive, museum, educational facility, and policy center. She married and joined her husband in washington d. Smith was born margaret chase in 1897 to a family of modest means in skowhegan, maine. Given at the height of the cold wars red scare, smiths famous speech. This book is incredibly informative and chronicles a little known politician and influential woman margaret chase smith. Margaret chase smith house is located in augusta, me, the state capitol, which sits on the banks of the kennebec river.
In 1964, she became the first woman to have her name placed in. Margaret chase smith is the author of declaration of conscience 3. In 1950, the cold war 19471991 between the united states and the united soviet socialist republic was escalating, and communism was a source of fear throughout the united states. For more than three decades, margaret chase smith served as a role model for women aspiring to national politics. Margaret chase smith, a future fourterm republican u. The declaration of conscience was a speech made by u. Beautiful, updated onebedroom apartments along with attractive common areas and secure entry to the building make tenants feel safe and secure. The margaret chase smith policy center is a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the university of maine umaine. Congress are critically analyzed in this rhetorical study. Sep, 2018 the senator who stood up to joseph mccarthy when no one else would margaret chase smith was the first woman to serve both the house and the senate and always defended her values, even when it. Margaret chase smith won her first seat in the house of representatives in a special election after her husband, clyde smith, died in 1940. The margaret chase smith library is a congressional research library open to qualified scholars. She taught school briefly and then worked 191928 on the skowhegan weekly newspaper. Margaret chase smith 18971995 represented the state of maine in both the u.
The margaret chase smith library is an archive, museum, educational facility, and public policy center devoted to preserving the legacy of margaret chase smith, promoting research into american political history, advancing the ideals of public service, and exploring issues of. This was probably the best part of the book because it gives the reader an excellent sense of context for the story of margaret chase smith. See more ideas about books, presidents book and leadership traits. When i came home from school, id eagerly grab it and lie down. The very traits that made smith an attractive candidate in. When people keep telling you that you cant do a thing, you kind of like to try it. Margaret chase smith was the most influential woman in the history of american politics.
List of books and articles about margaret chase smith. During world war ii, she was the only civilian woman to go to sea in a navy ship in wartime. House of representatives 1 and was the sole woman senator during her 24 years in the senate. A member of the republican party, she served as a u. Her speech was endorsed by six other liberaltomoderate republicans. Margaret chase smith she was the daughter of a barber in skowhegan, maine. Senator margaret chase smith, the socalled quiet woman from maine, is neither tonguetied nor coy. The sources you provide show that she was categorized as smith, margaret chase with chase being treated as a middle name as wasis common for many married women, not a part of her surname. Senator smith bravely denounced mccarthyism at a time when others feared speaking out would ruin. Senator smith bravely denounced mccarthyism at a time when others feared speaking out would ruin their careers. Click download or read online button to get margaret chase smith s skowhegan book now.
Beyond convention paperback june 1, 1996 by patricia l. Jul 26, 2016 in this week of firsts, we consider the women who first ran for major party nominations in the united states. Margaret madeline chase smith december 14, 1897 may 29, 1995 was a united states politician. Once in town, turn right at the first light, cross the two margaret chase smith bridges over the kennebec river, and circle counterclockwise through downtown by continuing to follow the signs for route 201 north madison avenue. When i was a little girl, my family subscribed to life magazine, which came to our house every week on friday. Join facebook to connect with margaret chase smith and others you may know.
Margaret chase smith author of declaration of conscience. Unable to afford college, she tried several jobs and considered her involvement in womens organizations as her education. Senator margaret chase smith arrives at the republican national convention, in daly city, california, in 1964. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Professor schmidt talked about her new book, margaret chase smith. Margaret chase smith was born and grew up in skowhegan, maine. Located in skowhegan, maine, margaret chase smith school is an educational institution that serves students in grades four and six. It operates art, music and physical education departments. I liked the book a great deal, but i may be biased in that i love senator smith for her feminism and love of the space program. Roosevelt, smith first women to appear on face the nation. She was also the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for president at a major. In 1958, folkways records released the album an interview with margaret chase smith, in which she spoke of women in local and national politics, and addressed the youth of the nation.
The right way is not always the popular and easy way. When margaret chase smith died in 1995 and the ripe old age of 97 she had lived long enough to pass from politician to statesperson to living icon. Maines late senator was a woman of countless firsts, spurring many to champion her image. The school s core curriculum includes literature, math, science, social studies and english. From interstate 95, take exit 3 to route 201 north. Oct 16, 2008 margaret chase smith, called the lady of maine, was a tough hawk who took a keen interest in military affairs and free speech. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. On june 1st, 1950, senator margaret chase smith 18971895 delivered her declaration of conscience speech from the senate floor. Margaret chase smith house housing properties volunteers. Margaret chase smith margaret chase smith 18971995 was one of the most politically powerful women in american history.
Margaret chase smith school 40 heselton st skowhegan, me. Smith, margaret chase, wife of clyde harold smith, a senator and a representative from maine. Margaret chase smith was born in maine in 1897 and grew up knowing the value of a dollar and the loss of two siblings. Margaret chase smith, in women in congress, 19172006. Politics of conscience a biography of margaret chase smith by patricia ward wallace and a great selection of related books, art and. Senator margaret chase smith on june 1, 1950, less than four months after senator joe mccarthys wheeling speech, on february 9, 1950. The book begins with chases modest maine upbringing and moves swiftly through her school days. Jan 01, 2008 this book is incredibly informative and chronicles a little known politician and influential woman margaret chase smith. She was the first woman to enter the senate without being appointed to the position. Smith began her political career as maines daughter and demonstrated nationally the new england virtues of honesty, hard work, frugality, and. Alice fleming a biography of the only woman to serve in both houses of congress and the first to be elected to four terms in the senate.
This biography of margaret chase smith is the first historical treatment of smith to use her voluminous private papers as well as extensive interviews with smith and her colleagues in congress. Senator from maine and presidential nominee, delivered her declaration of conscience speech in response to the practices relating to mccarthyism that she felt were pervading the united states government. Library of congress prints and photographs division washington, d. In a joint appearance on november 4, 1956, eleanor roosevelt and sen. Senate, smith cultivated a career as an independent and courageous legislator. Margaret chase smith policy center university of maine. Margaret chase smith united states senator britannica. Margaret chase smith discussed the upcoming presidential and congressional elections and the situation in the middle east. Meet the republican who broke the glass ceiling for all women. This timeline biography of margaret chase smith, the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket. Her voice was heard on many important issues from sending a man to the moon to defying the red scare.
Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Margaret chase smith blazed trails for women across the twentieth century, denying her own initiative and ambition every step of the way. Margaret chase smith s skowhegan download ebook pdf. The story is a biography for children, stressing gender equality. The senator who stood up to joseph mccarthy when no one else. The first woman to serve in both houses of congress, smith 18971995 began her career in 1940 when she replaced her husband, a republican representative from maine, after his death. Margaret chase smith quotes author of declaration of. Senator smith spoke the words quoted above during a fifteenminute speech delivered to the u. Her father was a barber and her mother, at different times, was a waitress, a store clerk, and a factory worker. Years later she said that she thought that she would be remembered more for this declaration of conscience than for her legislative achievements. Mar, 2012 in a joint appearance on november 4, 1956, eleanor roosevelt and sen. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of the united states congress, and the first woman to represent maine in.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The mcs policy center contributes to the quality of public dialogue concerning local, state, regional, and national policy issues through applied policy research and engaging with the community. Prepared under the direction of the committee on house. Margaret chase attended high school in her native skowhegan, maine, graduating in 1916. The margaret chase smith library opened in 1982 and for the next dozen years, she presided over the facility, meeting with admirers, former constituents, politicians, policymakers, researchers, and school children. Margaret chase smith, american popular and influential public official who became the first woman to serve in both u.
Margaret chase smith was a republican senator for maine with two videos in the cspan video library. Marlene boyd vallin the selected speeches of senator margaret chase smith of maine made throughout her 32 year career in the u. Janann sherman reconstructs the arc of her life, restores to her story her own agency, and lets us in on the difficulty of ever comprehending a life from any single point of view. Unable to afford college, she pursued a career in office work at the telephone company and a weekly newspaper until, at the age of thirtyfour, she married clyde harold smith, a prominent republican politician twentyone years her senior. A life of senator margaret chase smith rutgers series on women and politics.
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